New story emerges in Aldine High coach's shooting

New story emerges in shooting of area coachWoman who met Crawford in motel tells of armed robbery

MIKE GLENN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 5:30 am, Friday, September 17, 2010

A woman whom Aldine High School football coach Lionell Crawford arranged to meet in a north Houston motel room last month took part in an armed robbery that resulted in him being shot, authorities said on Friday.

Crawford, 40, initially told investigators that he was shot during an Aug. 13 carjacking when he stopped to use the bathroom at the Scottish Inn and Suites, 431 Rankin Road.

They were alone in the room for about 10 minutes when there was a knock on the door. Grigsby asked Crawford if she could borrow his pistol, which he has a license to carry, to play a joke on someone she called "her friend."

"Mr. Crawford stated defendant Grigsby opened the door slowly and stepped backwards, she did not scream or try to close the door," according to the criminal complaint.

Crawford said a man wearing a blue mask entered the room and pointed a pistol at him as part of a robbery. He struggled with the assailant and was shot in the abdomen.

"Mr. Crawford stated the suspect and defendant Grigsby fled the room together," according to the complaint.

Detectives used Grigsby's cell phone, which she left behind in the motel room, to track her down. Crawford later identified her in a photo lineup as the woman who opened the motel room door, setting in motion the robbery that led to his shooting.

The investigation is continuing, Harris County Sheriff's officials said.

Crawford or Aldine ISD officials could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Grigsby was charged Aug. 19 with aggravated robbery and released Aug. 24 after posting $30,000 bond. She could not be reached for comment Friday.